Michael E. Breseman Architects, Ltd.

Michael E. Breseman Architects, Ltd., has been committed to the restoration and reinvention of historic homes since 1993. The principal, Michael E. Breseman, has honed his knowledge of period detailing and classic proportions through extensive study and travel. His various successful residential projects are throughout the U.S. and in the U.K. with a strong emphasis on Chicago’s North Shore. Our alterations and additions to some of Lake Forest’s classic estates have made them relevant for today but respectful of the original architect’s designs. Our passion for traditional, timeless architecture has also influenced the numerous new homes and interiors designed for the 21st century family. Since 2001, The Franklin Report has rated Michael E. Breseman Architects Ltd. as one of the best residential firms in the Chicago area.

Michael E. Breseman, Principal No stranger to swinging a hammer or carrying bricks, Michael spent his boyhood years working alongside his father in residential construction. This early exposure to home building and remodeling inspired his career path and gave him a healthy respect for the craftsman. Michael earned a degree in architecture from IIT and has since become a sought-after designer on the North Shore, opening his namesake firm doors in 1993. His training emphasized the pure modernist approach of Mies Van Der Rohe, of “less is more” fame, while artfully combining the traditions of H. T. Lindeberg, Edwin Lutyens, and David Adler. Blessed to work on numerous historical home and their masters, he has developed the proportion, balance, symmetry, massing and detailing rules that enlighten his authentic traditional architecture of today.

Patricia A. Breseman, Designer Patricia earned a degree in fashion merchandising from Dominican University. She went on to receive her MBA from DePaul University. Her training in fashion styles, fabrics and proportions has lead to a natural progression into designing interiors for the firm. Patricia’s philosophy is one of eclecticism – the combination of the traditional elements with the clean crisp lines of modernism. Her studies and international travels have influenced her design aesthetics resulting in a multilayered yet refined style. Patricia enjoys working in unison with her clients to providing designs which reflect the client's sensibilities.